US involvement in Mali is unavoidable

Feb. 1, 2013

Written by

DeWayne Wickham

The Obama administration's decision to give non-combat, air support to French forces trying to beat back Islamic militants who are threatening to overrun Mali, so far, hasn't caused much of a ripple among war-weary Americans. But it should.

The poor, landlocked nation was considered a model African democracy until its elected government was toppled last year in a coup led by a U.S.-trained Malian army captain. However, like the civilian leaders he deposed, Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo failed to uproot the jihadists, who now control large swaths of the mostly desert nation.